“I just remember walking between them and feeling for the first time that I belonged somewhere”. Wanting to belong and the feeling that we get from belonging is what we strive for, which is in our human nature. The benefits we gain from belonging by far outweigh the costs but those costs are inevitable and can change a lot about ourselves. Our sense of identity can be compromised by belonging to a group. In Amish communities, individuals all obey the one simple way of living without modern technologies and plain dressing and face being shunned from the community if they do not respect the Amish way of life.
Belonging and being accepted into a group can have both negative and positive effects on an individual’s sense of personal identity. As humans we naturally want to belong and feel accepted. We are usually brought up in a specific way and mingle with people that are similar to us and without knowing we form an invisible bond with these people. Whether it may be religious views, cultural similarities or similar up bringing all these factors help us to become the person we are. Lars Fr.
The second family territory focuses on the immediate family structures with the purpose of security. Last is personal space, everyone yearns foe a feeling of independence and to reflect on their wishes, feelings, etc. These three aspects help create an environment that an individual develops their own characteristics and hopes. After reading Desmond Morris article on territorial behavior I feel I can relate as well as appreciate most of what he wrote, however on the other hand, our opinions differ over certain aspects of the essay. Morris defines a territory as a defended space.
Another misapprehension that encircles this practice is the aspect of choice. Does an arranged marriage inhibit an individuals' freedom and independence? No. The difference is simply that whole families are involved together in both considering the best options and in helping to achieve what is wanted and is particularly fitting in a social system which stresses on the need for family support and shared expectations. This is where the clear distinction between arranged and forced marriages are seen.
Belonging is a fundamental aspect of the human condition. Sharing of similar values and morality between an individual and the community in which they reside, enriches their sense of belonging as a result of expectations being met. Complete conformity ensures an individual’s membership to a group or unity, therefore enhancing their sense of belonging. Individuals who do not conform to the norms and conventions of the society in which they reside are denied membership, and as a result, live a life of isolation and fail to belong. These comparative experiences of belonging prevail through Raimond Gaita’s memoir Romulus My Father, and Ed Sheeran’s song lyrics The A Team.
Yes, this sounds clichéd – but it nevertheless speaks of the conformity that the belonging process often demands in order to overcome the dilemmas associated with belonging. Thus, belonging in a sense can be paradoxical; That in order for one to ‘belong,’ one must often lose a sense of identity. However, in order to positively belong, one must first construct themselves as an individual to know where they belong. These notions of belonging are demonstrated in Heat and Dust, Eveline and Kindness. Belonging cannot be conferred or passively accept, but must be established once we construct ourselves individually.
Identity is defined as “the distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity; individuality”. It is a vital factor that plays an essential part in our lives as it provides for us a sense of uniqueness and the ability to identify ourselves with others. Humans, being sociable creatures by nature, identify themselves through their relationship with friends, family, colleagues and other social groups; these interactions deliver a sense of privilege and belonging especially within one’s own family. As this is an ever changing phenomenon, many challenges are faced on the path of finding our true identity and the place we truly belong. These issues are explored profoundly in texts; Looking for Alibrandi, and Night, in which the characters face many complex and emotional events that question whether they truly belong to and can they identify themselves as being a part of their immediate families.
Communication within group settings matter because, regardless of knowing members, it is not viable to predict what decisions the group as a whole may make without discussion. Second, the “adaptive structuration theory has a ‘critical edge’” (pg. 239). The critical edge to the theory is Poole’s desires to empower all individuals; specifically, people who are treated of a lower class (within groups, of course). The adaptive structures of conventional groups refers to structure that is constantly evolving versus permanent.
As humans we possess an integral predisposition to imitate the actions of our family, and friends that are around us. We often will mimic the gestures, body posture, language, and many other behaviors of the ones we interact with. Two reasons for this conformity is normative influence, this is when people go along with the crowd because they are concerned about what others will think of them. The second reason for conformity is informational influence, this is because as humans we are highly motivate to do the right thing as society deems it, but this is not always so clear cut to us. In this instant we rely on descriptive norms, this is when we will act the way most people act or we will act the way people around us want us to act.
Language as an Identity Culture is a part of everyone's life, whether we choose to express it in our everyday lives or to just be aware of its presence. A major part of one's culture is a defining language. Languages are developed within common groups of people to unite and to create strength, but they are not meant to define us. Sometimes the revelation of different languages into different groups creates various conflicts. In Robert D. King’s essay, Should English Be the Law?